Tue Nov 27 19:04:55 2007

Comment | Email | Print

Eli's outing brings back memories of Giants' past failures

---

(Sports Network) - Somewhere, Joe Pisarcik might just be breathing a sigh of relief.

As many of you may recall, Pisarcik is the former New York Giants quarterback best remembered for taking part in one of the most ignominious plays in franchise history. His botched handoff attempt in the final seconds of a game against Philadelphia in 1978 was recovered by current Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards and returned for a touchdown that gave the Eagles a shocking 19-17 victory. The play is known by Philadelphia fans as "The Miracle at the Meadowlands", whereas Giants backers simply refer to it as "The Fumble."

Eli Manning will probably never take Pisarcik's dubious place in Giants' lore, though he sure came darn close to doing so with his utterly awful performance against the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday. The remarkably inconsistent signal-caller threw four interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns, to help the Vikings send New York's season back into potential turmoil with an emphatic 41-17 beating in front of an unforgiving Giants Stadium crowd.

Manning did match one standard of futility, as he became the first quarterback to have three picks run back for touchdowns in a game since Ed Baker of the Houston Oilers accomplished the feat against Cincinnati in the 1972 season finale. Incidentally, that was the only game Baker ever played in the NFL.

In essence, Manning, who also completed only 21-of-49 passes, had a day one would expect more from Tarvaris Jackson, the young Vikings triggerman who entered the contest sporting a lowly 55.5 quarterback rating. But he wasn't the only one responsible for a late-season disaster that has become all too familiar from Big Blue during Tom Coughlin's four-year reign as head coach.

New York's defense helped make Jackson temporarily morph into the second coming of Fran Tarkenton by routinely failing to come up with key stops and failing to contain the elusive second-year pro on a number of occasions. Jackson hit on 10 of his 12 throws for 129 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown strike to Sidney Rice after the rookie burned cornerback Aaron Ross on the second play from scrimmage, and added a career-best 38 rushing yards on five scrambles.

"There is no excuse for today and there is no explanation for it," said Coughlin. "I started the year off (by saying) 'talk is cheap, play the game,' and obviously there is not a lot to talk about here."

One could argue that the Giants were due for a clunker after winning seven times in an eight-game span to put themselves on solid footing in regards to the NFC playoff picture. Or maybe Sunday's loss could be the beginning of another second-half swoon that has haunted the team in recent years.

That still remains to be seen. What is certain is that Manning has yet to blossom into the elite quarterback that former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi envisioned when he mortgaged the immediate future to acquire the kid with the legendary last name during the 2004 draft. And it's anybody's guess as to whether he ever will be.

RUNNING ON EMPTY

Manning and the New York offense were handcuffed somewhat by having its two top running backs inactive for a matchup against a Minnesota squad that was allowing a league-low 74.4 rushing yards per game coming in. Brandon Jacobs missed the game due to a hamstring strain he suffered in New York's victory at Detroit the previous Sunday, while backup Derrick Ward sat out a fourth straight week with lingering ankle and groin ailments.

Well-traveled veteran Reuben Droughns got the majority of the ball-carrying duties on Sunday but managed just 46 yards on 15 attempts, although he did score on a one-yard plunge to cap the Giants' opening drive. Rookie Ahmad Bradshaw, who had been limited strictly to kick return duties this season, impressed by putting up 29 yards on four rushes as a change-of-pace option.

Bradshaw also tied a team record by returning eight kicks on the afternoon, matching a mark initially set by Brian Mitchell in 2003 and equaled by Willie Ponder the following year.

INJURY REPORT

Starting right offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie had to be carted off the field midway through the fourth quarter after the back of his leg rolled up on him while engaged with a Minnesota defender. The extent of the injury is not yet known.

Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, New York's leading tackler, also exited the game in the second half with an ankle injury, while Ross played sparingly over the final two quarters with a hamstring problem. Kevin Dockery and R.W. McQuarters each saw time at left cornerback with Ross on the sidelines.

QUICK HITS

- Sunday's loss was the Giants' worst at home since a 50-21 setback to Washington on September 19, 1999. It was also the team's largest margin of defeat since the Redskins posted a 31-7 win over New York at FedEx Field on December 5, 2004.

- Wide receiver Amani Toomer caught his 600th career pass when he hauled in a 24-yard delivery from Manning early in the third quarter. The Giants' all-time leader in receptions finished with four catches for 83 yards and now has 602 grabs over his 12-year career.

- The Giants sacked Jackson four times on Sunday to increase their NFL-leading season total to 38. End Osi Umenyiora had two of those takedowns and now has 10 sacks on the season, which trails only Green Bay's Aaron Kampman (11) and Seattle's Patrick Kerney (10.5) for the most in the league in 2007.

MOVING ON

The Giants will play the first of back-to-back important road games this weekend, when the club visits Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears. The defending NFC champions vaulted themselves back into the muddled conference playoff picture by rallying for a 37-34 overtime victory over Denver on Sunday, a win sparked by a pair of return touchdowns by the electrifying Devin Hester.

Hester also had a memorable game against New York last season, as he ran back a missed field goal attempt 108 yards for a score to aid in Chicago's 38-20 triumph over the Giants at the Meadowlands.

The Bears have won three of the last four meetings between these two longtime NFL franchises, but the Giants did emerge victorious in their most recent visit to the Windy City. That was back on September 17, 2004, when New York came away with a 14-7 decision.